A 61-year-old Apopka man has been arrested and charged with traveling to perform a sex act on a minor, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies said on Wednesday. Deputies said that two other men were also arrested following the three-day long undercover operation.
James Poland, 61, of Kati Lynn Drive in Apopka was arrested on Monday, following an undercover sting which lasted three days. During the operation, Poland, along with two other suspects, contacted undercover detectives both online and via the telephone. Detectives of the Cyber Crimes Unit said the suspects believed they were communicating with the parent or guardian of a young teenage child, about 13-14 years.
During the online conversations, the men made arrangements to meet with the detectives posing as parents or guardians to perform a sex act on the child. As the suspects arrived to pre-determined meeting locations, they were taken into custody without incident.
Along with Poland, Traven Morton, 24, of Umatilla, Florida and Steven Austin, 33 years, of an unknown address, were also arrested.
The suspects have been charged with several counts, including traveling to meet a minor for sexual activity, attempted lewd or lascivious battery, attempted transmission of harmful material to minors and certain uses of computer equipment that are prohibited.
Poland’s bond was set at $17,000 and $12,000 each in the cases of Morton and Austin.
Travis Morton
Steven Austin
